What Type of Oil to Use in a Craftsman 6.50/190Cc Self-Propelled Lawnmower?

Conventional and Synthetic Oil

• You can choose conventional or synthetic oil for your Craftsman 6.5 mower. The mower’s Briggs and Stratton engine uses oil to lubricate engine parts and prevent wear and tear during operation. While conventional is less expensive than synthetic oil, but conventional oil must be changed more often than synthetics. However, conventional is better than synthetic when it comes to coating new engines and engine parts. It is suggested not to switch to synthetic oil until after 50 hours of use.

Weight

• Before you pick an oil for your Craftsman mower, examine the oil’s viscosity rating. The lower the viscosity rating, the less time it takes to reach your engine’s vital parts on start up. Low viscosity oil is also thinner but burns out faster in high-temperature operation. High viscosity oil is thicker but can withstand hotter days. Multi-viscosity oil has the ability to adjust its flow speed according to ambient temperature.
  At temperatures below 46 degrees Fahrenheit, Briggs and Stratton recommends using 5W-30 weight. Use SAE 30 for temperatures above 46. Operating temperatures between -6 and 122 degrees F requires 10W-30, while synthetic 10W40 is usable at all temperatures.

Oil Change

• Your Craftsman 6.5 mower needs regular oil checks and changes. The first oil change should occur after the first five hours of operation because that gives the engine’s parts a chance to break in. Afterwards, change oil every 25 hours of operation. If you don't reach those hours before the end of the season, change the oil at the beginning of the next season.

Check Oil

• Check oil levels prior to every start. Ensure the engine is cold so that any oil in the system has returned to the main oil housing. Check it by opening the oil port cap to reveal the dipstick. Clean it off and stick it back in the oil port without touching the edges. Pull it back out and look to see where the oil level is according to the dipstick indicator. If the oil is towards the “add” line, slowly add oil.